Synonyms of abash

abash

verb

ə-ˈbash 

as in to embarrass

to throw into a state of self-conscious distress

felt terribly abashed when she walked into the wrong hotel room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• embarrass
• confuse
• fluster
• disconcert
• rattle
• mortify
• discountenance
• bother
• faze
• disturb
• discomfit
• upset
• nonplus
• unsettle
• confound
• distress
• humiliate
• discomfort
• perturb
• disquiet
• discompose
• humble
• agitate
• unhinge
• dismay
• shame
• put off
• demean
• debase
• degrade
• queer
• put out
• chagrin

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relieve
• calm
• comfort
• soothe
• console
• encourage
• cheer
• assure
• reassure
• hearten
• buoy
• embolden

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb abash contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of abash are discomfit, disconcert, embarrass, and rattle. While all these words mean "to distress by confusing or confounding," abash presupposes some initial self-confidence that receives a sudden check, producing shyness, shame, or a feeling of inferiority.

abashed by her swift and cutting retort

When can discomfit be used instead of abash?

Although the words discomfit and abash have much in common, discomfit implies a hampering or frustrating accompanied by confusion.

hecklers discomfited the speaker

In what contexts can disconcert take the place of abash?

The words disconcert and abash can be used in similar contexts, but disconcert implies an upsetting of equanimity or assurance producing uncertainty or hesitancy.

disconcerted by finding so many in attendance

When could embarrass be used to replace abash?

The meanings of embarrass and abash largely overlap; however, embarrass implies some influence that impedes thought, speech, or action.

the question embarrassed her so much she couldn't answer

When is rattle a more appropriate choice than abash?

While the synonyms rattle and abash are close in meaning, rattle implies an agitation that impairs thought and judgment.

rattled by all the television cameras

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abash

Here, furious parents throw open the cupboard to reveal their daughter’s abashed lover, as younger children look on wide-eyed and the family dog prepares to attack. —Susan Delson, WSJ, 20 June 2018

Bloom called him out, and the abashed Harris apologized. —Christina Schoellkopf, latimes.com, 15 June 2018

Not easily abashed by body-shamers, Teigen has publicly posted next-to-naked topless photos in the past. —Megan Decker, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 May 2018

Hefner was good-natured but rather abashed, diffident, and shy. —Jeanie Pyun, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Oct. 2017

Peverelli seemed slightly abashed at the images’ potential elevation from commerce to art. —Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 22 May 2017

But there is also a sort of confused, abashed one, often ironic, that acknowledges a problem and tries to work through a particularly American obliviousness. —Jill McDonough, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2017